Star talers

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Star Talers is a German nursery rhyme explaining the virtue of generosity. It tells the story of a beautiful young girl named Natalie who is sent by her family to the next village for food. On the way she meets a young boy shivering from the cold. Natalie gives the boy her coat and travels on. She then enters a forest and meets another little girl also shivering from the cold. She takes off her dress and gives it to the girl, continuing dressed only in a shift. Night falls, and she meets another little girl who is also cold. Natalie strips naked and gives the little girl her shift, continuing on her journey in the nude. She spends three days and nights in the forest stark naked, and on the fourth day she meets a man, at which point she conceals herself by diving into a pond. The man tells Natalie that he is an angel and that she can show herself, which she does. The man explains that god wants to reward Natalie for her generosity so he gives her a towel to dry off and clean clothes. When Natalie finishes dressing the man is gone. That night she looks up at the stars and they magically all turn into talers. Natalie returns home rich and the family lives happily ever after.

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